Diversity in Nursing is a popular topic in the world of Nursing. But, why is diversity an issue and what can we do to make improvements? I have noticed people and some nurses; really do not understand the issue of diversity in nursing. In addition, why is diversity in nursing the elephant in the room? There is a need to have diversity in the population of nurses because of the diverse population of patients. Let’s review the statistics and ethnicities in nursing: How do minority nurses self-identify? (Minoritynurse.com, 2016) 9.9% of RNs are Black or African American (non-Hispanic); 8.3% are Asian; 4.8% are Hispanic or Latino; 1.3% categorize themselves as two or more race; 0.4% are American Indian or Alaskan Native. Let’s review the statistics and ethnicities of the US population: What is the US population identifying? (infoplease.com/us/census.html, 2016) 12.3% are Black or African American (non-Hispanic); 3.6% are Asian; 12.4% are Hispanic or Latino; 2.4% categorize themselves as two or more race; 0.9% are American Indian or Alaskan Native. TABLE: US POPULATION VS MINORITY NURSES Ethnicities (2016) US Population Minority Nurses Minority Nurses Needed by 2020 Black or African American 9.9% 12.3% 2.4% Asian 8.3% 3.6% +4.7 % (surplus) Hispanic or Latino 4.8% 12.4% 7.6% Two or more races 1.3% 2.4% 1.1% American Indian/Alaskan 0.4% 0.9% 0.5% The table above list the needs in the minority community related to the US population and minority nurses. There is a need for more minority nurses to equal the population of the United States. Of all the ethnicities listed the Asian minority has the surplus of nurses....

International Women’s Day was first observed in 1909. In the USA, there was first a Women’s Day on March 8th, and then the USA expanded to a designated National Women’s Week. In 1987, Congress expanded the celebration to the month and March was declared Women’s History Month. Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the world. The Profession of Nursing is female dominant. Women are the largest population of caregivers in the world. Women provide the most amount of assistance to younger and older family members. We have to celebrate nurses & caregivers during Women’s History Month. Top Reasons to celebrate Nurses during International Women’s Month An estimated 94% women to 6% Men in Nursing. (www.rwjf.com) Everyone will need a nurse from birth to death. (www.rwjf.com) We need more nurses due to the 1,000,000 nurse shortage. (www.rwjf.com) Top Reasons to celebrate Caregivers during International Women’s Month An estimated 66% of caregivers are female/women. (www.caregiver.org) An estimated 20% of all female workers in the United States are family caregivers. (www.caregiver.org) Nurses and caregivers have to be represented in International Women’s History Month. Whether you are an Advanced Practice Nurse, Registered Nurse, New Graduated Nurse, RN, LPN, CNA or Caregiver then International Women’s History Month is for you. Nicole M. Brown, MSN, RN Founder: The Nurse Dolls Founder: Nursing Success College http://www.thenursedolls.com/ http://nursingsuccesscollege.com/...

In the Beginning for Black Nurses Wet Nurse is a woman who breast feeds and cares for another’s child. During slavery, African American women were forcing to function as wet nurses for their owners. Famous Educated Black Nurses Rachel Robinson is a former nurse and the widow of baseball player Jackie Robinson. She founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcom X, completed a degree in NURSING before becoming an educator. Famous Black Male Nurse or those who contributed to Blacks in Nursing James Derham born a slave, he purchased his freedom by working as a nurse & opened a medical practice. Daniel Hale Williams opened Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses, the nation’s first hospital with a nursing and intern program. Black Nurse Organizations National Black Nurses Association – 150,000 African American nurses & students – 92 chapters (35 states). CHI ETA Phi Sorority – professional organization for RN’s & students with – 22 chapters (26 states). Black Nurses Rock-the newest & 2nd largest national black nurse organization-150,000 nurses & students. Famous Movies or TV Show focused on Black Nurses Nurse Julia – Diane Carroll as Nurse Julia 1st AA woman to earn an Emmy nomination & won 2 Golden Globes. HawthoRNe – Jada Pinkett Smith as Nurse Christina Hawthorne as CNO & President of a Hospital. She won an Image Award. The Book of Negros Movie – Aminata Diallo is forced into slavery & used Nursing midwifery skills for a living. Nurse by Association Salt & Pepper Rap Duo met – In 1985, while studying nursing at Queensborough Community College. Henrietta...

Have you ever experienced feelings of unexplained sadness and energy loss during Winter? How can you tell if these feelings are your body’s normal reaction to the elevated stress associated with the Winter holidays or something more? Everyone feels the blues sometimes, but those who with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) experience symptoms that go far beyond general moodiness. SAD is a type of depression related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months subsiding around April or May, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. SAD affects 10 million American adults. As many as one in 10 people experience the disorder in states where the climates are colder and cloudier. Anyone can get SAD, but it’s more common in: Women. People who live far from the equator, where winter daylight hours are very short. People between the ages of 15 and 55. People who have a close relative with SAD. Experts aren’t sure what causes SAD. But they think it may be caused by a lack of sunlight. Lack of light may upset your “biological clock,” which controls your sleep-wake pattern. Lack of sunlight may also cause problems with serotonin, a brain chemical that affects mood. Some symptoms of SAD include, but are not limited to: Feel sad, grumpy, moody, or anxious. Lose interest in your usual activities. Eat more and crave carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta. Gain weight. Sleep more but still feel tired. Have trouble concentrating. There are 3 main courses...

Well Parents, the holidays are upon us once again and while we strive to give our children most every gift they desire; there are some safety considerations to keep in mind. Scooters, bicycles and skateboards, oh my! Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast, and falls could be quite harmful and even deadly. *Helmets and safety gear should be worn properly at all times and they should be sized to fit. *Heed the age range listed on the package. *Keep your neighborhood traffic in mind. If you live on a busy street, perhaps a backyard riding toy would prove safer. Small balls and other toys with small parts are sure to be fun but could also become choking hazards. *Again, heed the age range listed on packaging. Children under 3 years of age tend to explore their world mouth first. *Consider keeping track of small toy parts by placing them in zipper lock sandwich bags, this way you will be aware if any stray parts are left behind on the floor where small children and pets could ingest them Toys and electronic games with Lithium button batteries can be a danger hiding in your home. When swallowed, these small batteries get stuck in the throat. The saliva triggers an electric current which causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as two hours. *Consider items that have a battery compartment which requires a screwdriver or household tool to open. *Keep extra batteries out of the reach of small fingers on a high shelf or locked cabinet for...

The Story Behind THE NURSE DOLLS I am a mother of three children. Each time I left for work in my white coat and scrubs, my children would ask, “Are you a doctor or a dentist?” I would respond, “I am a Nurse.” They would ask, “What is a Nurse?” I could not find any toys on store shelves or online in 2009 to educate my children about Nursing and health topics. So, I decided start a product line with books, DVD’s and dolls to educate children about Nursing. My goal is to inspire children to become a future, student, and eventually a Professional Career Nurse. Explaining the ins and outs of my profession to my children inspired me to write my first two children’s books, N is for Nurse, and Wash Your Hands, from the Adventures of Nurse Nicole series. True to life, my books describe a mothers’ explanation of Nursing to her three children. In addition to the books, I also created an animated DVD explaining how nurses and mom’s outsmart germs, entitled, “The Battle of the Germs“. As a mom and a Nurse, my #1 job is to protect my children from the illnesses germs can cause. Hand Washing is the #1 way to fight off Germs!! The NURSE DOLLS are 18 inch dolls. The Nurse Dolls are a unique, creative and career oriented doll line, which is sure to have a positive future impact on the current Nursing shortage in the United States. As a Nurse educator, I feel a calling to better educate our youth about healthcare issue’s and invite young children to pursue the profession of Nursing. With their beautiful craftsmanship...

November is National Diabetes Month. Diabetes, often referred to by healthcare professionals as Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either due to poor insulin production, or because the body’s cells don’t properly respond to insulin, or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience frequent urination (polyuria), they will become increasingly thirsty and hungry. There are 3 types of Diabetes: Type 1 Often referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years. Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels with regular blood tests and following a special diet. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1. Type 1 diabetes is not as common as type 2 diabetes. Patients with type 1 are treated with regular insulin injections, as well as a special diet and exercise. Type 2 Type 2 Diabetes can be one of the most troubling forms of the disease because many times its onset is due to being overweight, physically inactive and eating the wrong foods. Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are type 2. Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk. Being overweight/obese causes the body to release chemicals that can destabilize...

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” –President Woodrow Wilson Nov 11 1918 I am proud to be a Veteran of The United States Army. Not many people understand the discipline and self sacrifice required to serve in the military. As an educator I often ask questions to gain a better understanding of what motivates people to think the way they do. Today I decided to ask this question of random people that I encountered while running my errands “Why is it important to celebrate Veterans day?” The responses ranged from offended looks to the standard answer of “because the people that died for our freedom deserve recognition”. As a result of this experience, something very important occurred to me; many civilians that have not served in the military have no idea about the origins of Veterans Day or why we should celebrate it. Nothing to fear, Nurse educator Nicole is here. On any given day I wear a number of hats. I am a mom, daughter, sister, Nurse, educator, entrepreneur, and an Army Veteran. Today I’m putting on my Veteran and educator hat. Answers to commonly asked Veterans day questions are listed below. Knowing these answers will make you a more informed citizen. My hope is that...